Scoot died on a long ride, then came right back By sine (Read 984 times)

[sine]

Hey guys,

I took my scoot to work today (11 miles each way), and about 3/4 of the way home at the end of the day, I started having a problem. The scooter was making a light scraping/rattling sound, as if there were small pebbles in the exhaust. Shortly after that noise started I lost acceleration. The scoot slowed down to a stop but didn't sputter, just kept making the noise I described. I pulled over and hit the kill switch and, very strangely, the motor ran for about 5 seconds after I hit kill. This has never happened before.

I waited about five minutes by the side of the road, then tried the scoot, and it started up fine. Rode the rest of the way home with no noise and no problems. Took it out again after dinner for a few more miles and still no sign of the problems from earlier, it seems to be running great.

I'm thinking (well, guessing really) that I may have overheated something. It was just over 90 degrees F here today. When the noise and the problem started I was going wide open throttle on a slightly upward incline, and I had probably already been at wide open throttle for a good 2 miles. It was the early afternoon, the hottest part of the day.

Can anyone take a guess as to what might be the problem, or what I should check out? I don't even know where to begin on this one.

[sprocket]

Soft seize... you will ruin the scooter running it at WOT in that heat

They aren't designed to do that...

Change your oil...

[terrilee]

always vary your throttle
up--down--up--down--up--down

[Bashan]

Both Sprocket and the Temptress have very valid points. Another thing that comes to mind that happened to me was the coil went bad. When it oveheats it starts to make little electrical pop noises that could be interpreted as pebbles. Then, when you hit the kill it shorts and has enough juice to give a few more sparks. Just a thought, you might want to swap the coil. Rich

[terrilee]

Apr 17, 2012 10:21:19 GMT -6 Bashan said:

Temptress

say WHAT

[terrdnf]

yep Rich. had that happen on a 1975 suzuki TM-125. it would cool down then run fine it was a PITA to chase it down!!! Even replaced the kill switch coz it was questionable.

[sine]

Thanks for the input everyone.

I changed the engine oil this morning then made the commute to and from work no problem. Today was much cooler (only 80F at the most) and I varied the throttle as terri suggested. The scooter ran like mint. So it doesn't seem like there was any permanent harm done (or at least I hope not). If it starts acting up again I will know to check out the coil.

Look where my odometer was at the end of the day when I pulled in the garage ;D My little baby is almost all broken in! (btw, that's km, not miles).

[imnts2]

Sprocket it right. To much heat will destroy an air cooled engine. You really will not be fully broke in for a lot more miles. I would avoid synthetic oil for another 1000 km. But do change the regular oil often. check it every day and wipe the dip stick on a white paper towel and look for signs of it getting a little darker. The heat of 11 miles may actually overheat the oil a bit and cause it to lose some of it's lubrication qualities.

Sounds like a good 50. Baby it a little. 11 miles is a great ride if you are not in danger of being run over. I notice in our little village there are paved "shoulders" that the scoots seem free to use with no or very little conflict with cars trying to run 50 or so in 35 zone. I think the police prefer a smooth 50 because they make absolutely no effort to slow the traffic down. Gets a lot more cars through but it sure would intimidate me even on a fairly quick 150. it just is a stretch to keep up with 50 MPH traffic.

[sine]

imnts2, I was wondering whether I should have used synthetic or not. Guess it's a good thing I didn't. Thanks for the input.

Need to change the gear oil next!